Marvin G. Beesley

Marvin Grady Beesley, 81, of Willow Valley Retirement Community, formerly of Wilmington, DE, died Tuesday, April 19th, at The Glen at Willow Valley. He graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1951 and served as an Air Force medical supply officer during the Korean War. Mr. Beesley worked for the DuPont Company for 38 years in the Human Resources and International Departments and represented the company in several national professional organizations. At the time of his retirement in 1991, he was DuPont’s Manager of Benefits and Pensions.

Before moving to Willow Valley in 1999, he was an active member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Wilmington, where he served on the Administrative Board, the building committee and was Chairman of the Board of the Fund Raising Campaign for the current church ­building. At his death, he was a member of First United Methodist Church of Lancaster.

His main hobbies were ­gardening, reading and travel, which he and his wife did extensively. A dear friend recently wrote, “We will miss his quiet dignity and his kind considerate ways. He was a consummate gentleman.”

Mr. Beesley is survived by his wife, Wilma, with whom he would have celebrated 60 years of marriage this June; a daughter, Susan Kay Beesley of Wilmington, DE; and a granddaughter, Kaitlyn Michael Beesley-Campos of Davis, CA. He was preceded in death by his son, Michael Grady.

Friends are respectfully invited to attend a memorial service in the Johnson Auditorium of Willow Valley Manor North, 600 Willow Valley Square, Lancaster, PA on Monday, May 2, 2011 at 1:00 P.M. The family will greet friends immediately following the service. Interment will be ­private. In lieu of flowers, ­contributions in his memory may be sent to Hospice of Lancaster County, 685 Good Drive, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125.

Arrangements are being handled by Kearney A. ­Snyder Funeral Home, 717-394-4097. For further information or to send an on-line ­condolence, please visit: